Here is Our Summer!

Here is Our Summer!

I started to write a blog and then was unable to get it posted but I thought that I would still use it and now you can get all of the updates I promised … immediately.

Mommy Blogs

Well, I am just sending out a quick post because in 20 minutes I will be leaving for the RIVER! We are going for the weekend and this will be the only trip for me this year. I am having a baby in two months and I don’t want to get caught out in the heat too far from home … just in case!  

Update! It was SO great! I was a goober and didn't take any pictures but my friends did and I am borrowing their handy work. I am very sad now that I will not be able to go in August for the big week long trip but I have to save my vacation time, baby is almost here.

Next week I will have a post all about our trip to South Carolina but I need more time to get my pictures and thoughts together. It was such a wonderful time. We participated in a beautiful wedding and were able to spend time with a great couple at the start of their new family. Jake and Lauren we loved enjoying out time together.

Update! I have pictures, keep reading.

Today though I want to send out a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the hazards of reading too many Mommy Blogs! Don’t get me wrong a funny entertaining post about crazy naked toddlers at Target or crazy Mommies can be very enjoyable and a good way to lighten your mood but reading too many at a time can make your outlook a bit cynical. So here is the announcement …

Read only three Mommy Blogs a day.

Trust me, last week I read too many and started to feel like I wasn’t a good Mom because I am still working. I have nothing against Stay At Home Mothers, I think they do a great job and it is a real job that takes all of a person’s energy and time. But reading all of the posts made me feel inferior, every day I go to work and I drop off my daughter all day long with another woman that handles all of the crazy baby things that happen. She handles three other toddlers as well! I started thinking that all of those Mommy moments were being lost, especially when I pick her up and I am so strapped for time to get all of the other things done that I need to do. So for all of you Moms out there: Read only three Mommy Blogs a day. Don’t feel guilty about working or not working. Don’t feel guilty about what you cannot do because really the point of all of this blogging is not to judge or condemn but to include and embrace.

Lake Havasu City

I just love the heat, the desert and the water. My baby had a great time too.

Pictures courtesy of Genevieve Linde.

Picture courtesy of Genevieve Linde.

Picture courtesy of Noelle Negrete Tracey.

Picture courtesy of Noelle Negrete Tracey.

Picture courtesy of Jason Tracey.

Our House

Take a look at all of the before and after pictures. I am so happy to be in my own home, all of those hours of watching HGTV are finally getting put to good use!

From a little sketch on paper to a beautiful kitchen.

Everyone should have a happy sponge!

South Carolina – Jake and Lauren’s Wedding Weekend

Terry, Allison and I traveled across the entire nation to attend and participate in the wedding of Terry’s brother Jake and his beautiful bride Lauren.  Meeting and making connections with new family was the best part of the trip. As you may know from previous blogs I just love the connections that I have with all of my family/friends and getting to expand that circle just thrills me. Charleston South Carolina is a beautiful state full of green, green, and more green! That is because it is wet, wet and a whole lot of wet! We stayed inside and enjoyed the air conditioning then went to enjoy the sea breeze on the Carolina Queen where Jake and Lauren exchanged vows. The skies were grey and the wind did blow but right as the couple was saying “I Do” the sun shone through the clouds and lit up the entire wedding party. It was spectacular. Thank you to everyone for making our stay so memorable and fun.

Who is that peeking around Daddy?

First time on an airplane!

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Picture courtesy of ImLady Stetson.

Our feet on the East Coast in the Atlantic Ocean.

Crab Cake, yum.

Eating ice cream on top of Daddy's head. 

Disneyland

Hi Uncle Tim! We just love spending time with you at Disneyland. Allison also enjoys all of the stickers, pretty soon all of the furniture in her room will be decorated in Mickey Mouses’ face. Hahaha!

Hidden Mickey in California Adventure.

I love stickers!

Ice cream sundae in a sink bowl that looks like Mickey pants, what?!

Orange County and Ventura County Fairs

Who doesn’t love the fair? Last week we went to two; the Orange County and Ventura County Fairs. I just love eating my way through the aisles and checking out all of the baby animals. We had the best thing ever at the Orange County Fair, a pickle dog. Go to Pickle O’ Pete’s and get one, don’t argue with me just do it! You will not regret it. Later on in the week Grandma, Papa, Gabriel, Xander, Emi, Terry, Allison and I took the Amtrak Surfliner to the Ventura County Fair to play all day long. Allison and Emi were big enough this year to ride the rides … all by themselves. Gabriel and Xander took Papa and Terry to the bigger rides and daredevil bungy jumping. Grandma and I got to take home our very own Macadamia Nut trees from the “Macadamia Nut Guy” in the agricultural building. We can’t wait to see them grow. My advice to everyone … GO TO THE FAIR!

Circus – Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Baileys

 Every year we go to the circus when it comes to town. It always comes to town around my Dad’s birthday and since he LOVES the circus it is a perfect fit. This year the theme was Legends and they did not disappoint: the steel ball of TERROR, a Wholly Mammoth and the Pegasus made an appearance. Rounding out the summer with performing pigs, dogs and lamas is really fun.

We are enjoying our last summer days and I am getting excited for the arrival of my new little baby, making my family even bigger. I just love family and I hope that he will too.

Enjoy your summer! Jenn